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I'm in the process of applying for Arizona Long Term Care for my mother. She was denied a couple of years ago, but things have progressed since then. A friend applied to ALTCS for her children and was told to answer the questions as if they were asking about the worst day. I struggle because Mom has days when she's on the ball and then others where she's not. I struggle too because it almost feels like lying if I don't explain that. :( Can any of you give me insight on how I should be answering these questions?

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You have a diagnosis I am going to assume?
If you do then you understand the trajectory is downhill and inexorably so.
Few dementia patients fluctuate between OK and decidedly NOT OK.
Most are not safe alone anymore and cannot function alone anymore.

If you mother isn't there yet, then perhaps it is too early to apply for this aid.
But if she needs daily help and someone there for her own safety, then she IS there, and that is what you would be conveying.

I agree with the person who suggests that you will describe Mom at her worst, because that is what she is asking coverage for, and that is "where she lives" for the most part (I assume, not knowing her).

Best of luck. Truly, once you get into trying to EXPLAIN everything you open a kettle of fish that really creates a quite unpleasant stew.
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Stardust Jun 5, 2025
Ooof, I know that stew!! Thank you for your insight!
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I have always said that a "bad day" this week could be a "good day" next week.
You never know what the decline of any disease or condition will bring.
Answer the questions as if she is having a bad day.
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Stardust Jun 5, 2025
Okay, that makes sense! Thank you!
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Stardust, you should give them the worst case scenario. It's not her good days that require assistance it is the worst days.

I live in Arizona and I haven't seen an Altcs application, my dad was 14.00 a month over the limit for assistance but, all the other Arizona services applications that I have knowledge of are denied if it isn't worst case scenario.

You are not lying in any way by giving the truth of her bad days. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together knows that is a reality, good days, bad days and just days are a fact of life.
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Stardust Jun 5, 2025
Mom is a bit over the asset limit as well, but we've been told we can chuck it into a trust that Medicaid can use for her care, so fingers crossed!

Thank you for your input!
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This is an application for Medicaid in AZ. Medicaid, although a federal program, is governed individually by each state. This means the apps are state-specific, so the questions on the AZ app are probably not the same as in others. You will need to post the actual questions you are struggling with, and maybe other responders who are residents of AZ will also be able to give you insights.
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Stardust Jun 4, 2025
It's more of a general thing... am I in fact supposed to describe her as to her worst times? Or her best times? Something in between?
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